Chapter 1018: From an Exchange of Blows, Friendship Grows
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Boom!” came another explosion. This time, Tang Wulin’s feet sunk another three inches. However, Ma Shan was staggering backward from the impact. He only managed to regain his footing after five steps.
This time, his gaze truly changed. Although he did not use his soul skill, his Titan Ape martial soul was a pure strength-type martial soul that had been passed down to him directly. Where collisions of pure strength were concerned, he was confident in his abilities even if his opponent was a Title Douluo.
However, he had not gained the upper hand even after a few consecutive bouts with Tang Wulin. This left him feeling greatly depressed.
Tang Wulin drew a deep breath. “It’s impolite to not return what one receives. Commander Ma, please receive my spear.” As he said this, Tang Wulin’s eyes shone brightly. The complementing yin-yang vortex swirled wildly within him. He planted his feet firmly on the ground. He stabbed with his Golden Dragon Spear, moving slowly as if it was heavy as a mountain. An excited dragon’s roar sounded. Countless Bluesilver Emperor vines could be seen appearing like little golden dragons. They circled around the Golden Dragon Spear and then merged with it. A colossal Golden Dragon’s head sprouted at the spear’s tip. With a deafening roar, it suddenly detached itself from the Golden Dragon Spear and flew straight toward Ma Shan. It was the Blue Emperor Golden Dragon Soars to the Heaven!
The Blood Soul Fusion Skill!
The difference between their cultivation bases was too great. That was why Tang Wulin had unleashed his Blood Soul Fusion Skill, which he was getting familiar with, at the first opportunity he had.
Ma Shan’s expression changed. He finally disregarded his own status. The first and third soul rings on his body lit up at the same time. His skin immediately shone with a steely luster. At the same time, his body enlarged again with his height exceeding twelve meters which was roughly the size of a standard melee mecha. His fists enlarged as well until its diameter was a meter. He hurled both of them at the Golden Dragon Soars to the Heaven simultaneously.
“Boom!”
The third explosion was clearly louder than the previous two. While deafening, it also blasted the accumulated snow far into the skies.
Long Yuxue had tried to leave the forging workshop three times, but each time, she was suppressed by the strong air flow which prevented her from stepping out of the workshop.
Each air flow was stronger than the one before. Although she was extremely anxious currently, there was nothing she could do.
‘How did it come to this? Just how did it come to this? Wulin, please be okay.’ Feeling anxious, her eyes turned red as well. She unleashed her martial soul and was about to charge out of the workshop with all her might.
However, at this very moment, one of the walls of the forging workshop suddenly crumbled with a loud crash. A colossal body which flickered with golden electric currents crashed into the workshop and toppled two racks of rare metals. The body crashed heavily onto the ground and even formed a human-shaped pit.
Long Yuxue was at first stunned. In the next moment, she covered her red lips.
‘Good heavens! This is… Commander Ma?’
Such a huge body could not possibly be Tang Wulin. It could only be Ma Shan!
Ma Shan, a rank-84 Soul Douluo. Tang Wulin?
Although Long Yuxue had always known that Tang Wulin was powerful, she never thought that he was powerful enough to bring down the Iron Blood Battalion’s commander. It was simply unbelievable!
However, the truth was laid bare before her eyes. When Long Yuxue ran out eagerly, she saw Tang Wulin pulling his feet out of the ground, as if nothing had happened. He wielded his Golden Dragon Spear and walked slowly toward the workshop. Currently, the alarm was already blaring. Scores of figures were running over to where they stood. They were the imposing experts from the army’s court-martial.
Tang Wulin shrugged at Long Yuxue with slight helplessness. His major general’s star on his shoulder flickered. At the moment, Long Yuxue felt light on her feet. She seemed to never have truly understood the man who was standing before her.
‘He’s? Don’t tell me he’s really…’
The personnel from the court-martial surged toward them like a swarm of bees. The Iron Blood Battalion’s Commander Ma had risen to his feet. He looked beaten and in a slightly sorry state. His military uniform was torn apart the moment he transformed. Currently, there were dozens of wounds on his chest which formed a criss-cross pattern. They were left behind by the Golden Dragon Soars to the Heaven. His fists were alright, and his eyes flickered with a fierce light. A few scratch marks could be seen on his head. Naturally, he was bald where the scratch marks were.
When he saw the arrival of the court-martial personnel, he did not maintain his martial-soul form but returned to his initial appearance. Nevertheless, he looked gloomy. In fact, he was more shocked than gloomy.
He could not help but be shocked. Everything that happened was beyond his judgment.
The chief of the court-martial was a colonel. When he saw the dignified-looking, handsome Tang Wulin standing there with his Golden Dragon Spear in his hands, he looked astonished.
Dressed in a martial attire which was white as snow and armed with a dragon spear, he could certainly make heads turn in a room.
However, when the colonel saw the major general insignia on Tang Wulin’s shoulders, his expression changed immediately. His initial reaction was the same as Ma Shan’s. ‘How can there be such a young major general?’ Unlike Ma Shan, though, he was not as impulsive.
The colonel floated toward Tang Wulin and landed softly in front of him. He saluted Tang Wulin first, and Tang Wulin returned the salute.
“Senior officer, may I know which department you’re from? And what happened here?” Since he did not know who Tang Wulin was, he could only address him according to the military rank displayed on his shoulders.
Tang Wulin saluted him and said with a lowered voice, “I’m the newly appointed Blood Nine of the Blood God Battalion. The Iron Blood Battalion’s Commander Ma doubted my identity, hence, we fought. This is my Blood God Bracelet. You may verify it yourself.”
As he said this, Tang Wulin raised his left hand and showed the Blood God Bracelet on his wrist to him.
When he heard Tang Wulin addressing himself as Blood Nine, the colonel’s jaw dropped for he could hardly believe his ears. Ma Shan who had just stumbled out from the forging workshop was stunned.
He did not believe everything that Tang Wulin had said before this. However, he had no choice but to believe him now, albeit half-heartedly. ‘No way, Blood Nine?’ His opponent had truly beaten him with his own strength. Although he had not fought with his full strength, he could not be sure that his opponent had used his full strength either.
Ma Shan’s expression was slightly sour. Nearby, Long Yuxue had a confused look in her eyes.
He had only stayed in the army for a few short months! Within that period of time, he got himself promoted from a second lieutenant to a major general and also become the Blood God Battalion’s Blood Nine. Was it even possible? Although it seemed highly impossible, he had, nevertheless, blown Commander Ma away. Deep in her heart, Long Yuxue was willing to believe that it was true.
The colonel verified Tang Wulin’s Blood God Bracelet and returned it to him with respect. Then, he saluted him again. “Thank you for your cooperation, senior officer.”
After he finished, he turned and walked toward Ma Shan. “Hello, Commander Ma.”
Ma Shan stared with his mouth agape. Later, he said, “This can’t be. Is he really?”
The colonel spoke with a solemn expression, “His identity has been verified. The senior officer is the new Blood Nine. He was just commissioned this morning.”
Ma Shan gulped. He suddenly felt that he was in trouble.
Tang Wulin strode over and said with a lowered voice, “Actually, there’s nothing to it. It was just something personal between the commander and I. We weren’t happy with each other’s strengths, and we decided to spar with each other. We caused quite a stir which has resulted in unnecessary trouble. Can we just let this pass? The next time we spar, we’ll be sure to head over to the combat room. We’ll repair everything that’s been broken. How’s that sound?”
The colonel looked at Ma Shan who seemed tongue-tied at the moment. Then, he looked at the genial-faced Tang Wulin. How could he not understand what the situation was? He made a cough and said, “Alright, my dear senior officers. Make sure there’ll be no next time. After all, it’ll cause us trouble if you keep making such a huge scene.”
After he finished, he saluted Tang Wulin and Ma Shan. Then, he left along with the court-martial personnel.
Tang Wulin sighed softly, “Commander Ma, can you now accept my identity?”
Ma Shan gulped and caressed his bald head. “That’s nothing! Are you really Blood Nine?”
Tang Wulin guffawed, “Why don’t we have another sparring session in the combat room?”
Ma Shan waved his hand. “There’s no need for that. The court-martial already confirmed your identity. I’ve been too rash and acted improperly. I offer my apologies.”
Tang Wulin shrugged, “There’s no need for apologies. Commander Ma, you must help me repair everything we’ve destroyed here.”
“No problem. Leave it to me.” Ma Shan was also a frank person. He agreed to the request immediately. At the same time, he was grateful. The Blood God Army’s rules were very strict. Although he could be wild at times, he knew that if he broke the rules, he would not be given the chance to explain himself. After all, he was only a senior colonel while Tang Wulin was a major general. He could be charged as revolting against his superior for attempting to apprehend Tang Wulin without sufficient grounds to justify his action. If Tang Wulin had insisted on taking action, he would be in deep trouble. Not only would his merit points be deducted as a penalty, but he might also even be grounded for a period of time. That would be highly embarrassing.